Kia’s upcoming Tasman ute has generated excitement, especially with the recent sighting of a V6 prototype undergoing emission tests in California.
Captured by KindelMedia, the prototype was found to house the 3.3-litre V6 Twin Turbo engine from the Kia Stinger, raising speculation about Kia’s intentions to rival high-performance utes like the Ford Ranger Raptor. Within the 2023 Stinger, the 3.3L engine creates 274 kW @ 6,000 rpm and 510 Nm @ 1,300–4,500 rpm. For comparison, the Ranger Raptor’s 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo EcoBoost engine produces up to 292kW @ 5650rpm and 583Nm @ 3500rpm.
The Tasman, set to be produced at Kia’s Autoland facility in Korea, has an ambitious annual production target of 65,000 units and aims to penetrate international markets, with Australia being a primary focus due to its robust ute market.
The Tasman will feature advanced technology and a robust powertrain, including four-wheel-drive and automatic transmission options. Launched with a 2.2-litre diesel engine, available in single and double cab configurations, Kia has confirmed electrified models to follow. Earlier reports suggested that the Tasman wouldn’t receive a 6-cylinder engine due to government regulations and Hyundai-Kia’s retirement of other 6-cylinder models, but the testing prototypes with the powerful 3.3-litre V6 Twin Turbo engine will reignite hopes for a high-performance model.
With Australia’s annual sales volume of 200,000 utes dominated by brands like Toyota and Ford, Kia hopes the Tasman will capture 10% of this competitive market.
